Radio Free Asia, 2025 M Street NW, Washington D.C., DC (2025)

07/03/2025

Explainer: China has very practical reasons why it wants a say in who is the next Dalai Lama, given the enormous popularity of the current one and his ability to maintain cohesion among Tibetans across the globe in their fight for greater autonomy for Tibet.

The current Dalai Lama has become an enormously popular figure. Winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, his international renown has helped maintain a unity among Tibetans in and outside Tibet, despite efforts to negate his influence by the CCP.

07/02/2025

The Dalai Lama says he will have a successor who won’t be picked by China.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said that his team would find the next Dalai Lama, as Beijing insists it must approve the selection.

The decision, he said in a statement that he read aloud during the opening day of a three-day conference of spiritual leaders in Dharamsala, came after years of appeals from Tibetan religious and secular leaders, as well as people and organizations from around the world.

“In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal,” he said. “In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.”

His statement did not mention China by name, but it said that selecting the next Dalai Lama should be carried out “in accordance with past tradition.”

“No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” he said.

07/02/2025

The Dalai Lama on Wednesday affirmed that he should have a successor and said the next Dalai Lama should be chosen by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit group that he set up — rejecting moves by China to steer his succession.

The decision, he said in a statement that he read aloud during the opening day of a three-day conference of spiritual leaders in Dharamsala, came after years of appeals from Tibetan religious and secular leaders, as well as people and organizations from around the world.

07/01/2025

Hong Kong marked the 28th anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China under the "one country, two systems" formula which which guarantees wide-ranging autonomy and judicial independence not seen in mainland China.

Critics say the promise has been eroded after China imposed Hong Kong’s
national security law in June 2020.

Overseas Hong Kong groups in Vienna, Vancouver, London, and elsewhere held "silent protests" to mark the fifth anniversary of the passing of the National Security Law.

07/01/2025

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said there would be a “structured framework” for his succession and reflected on a “profoundly purposeful and deeply fulfilling” life as spiritual and administrative leaders gathered on Monday to begin celebrations for his 90th birthday.

“Throughout my life, I have worked for the welfare of the Tibetan people, preservation of the Dharma, and for the happiness of all,” he said. “I believe this human life of mine has served the whole of mankind and I remain committed to dedicating the rest of it, too, for the well-being of all.”

07/01/2025

A Chinese survey ship has been repeatedly circling within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea since mid-June, raising concerns of a potential maritime standoff.

The vessel, named Bei Dao 996, was first tracked by SeaLight, which uses commercially available technology to monitor and expose so-called “gray zone” activities — meaning coercive activities at sea that stop short of triggering a military response. China is often accused of adopting such tactics to assert its sweeping claims over the disputed waters in the South and East China Seas.

06/30/2025

Protesters are demanding the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over her handling of the Cambodian border crisis.

The political turmoil was set by a leaked conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

About 20,000 protesters joined the rally, according to an estimate by the Bangkok police. Despite a downpour in the afternoon, they held national flags and placards around the Victory Monument in central Bangkok as speakers took turns blasting the government.

06/30/2025

The Dalai Lama said there would be a “structured framework” for his succession and reflected on a “profoundly purposeful and deeply fulfilling” life as spiritual and administrative leaders gathered on Monday to begin celebrations for his 90th birthday.

“Throughout my life, I have worked for the welfare of the Tibetan people, preservation of the Dharma, and for the happiness of all,” he said. “I believe this human life of mine has served the whole of mankind and I remain committed to dedicating the rest of it, too, for the well-being of all.”

Photos by Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan

06/30/2025

Facing "immense political pressure" from a five year-long national security crackdown, Hong Kong's League of Social Democrats said on Sunday that it would disband, leaving the China-ruled city with no formal pro-democracy opposition presence.

Journalists on Sunday, June 29, 2025, crowded the press conference where Chan Po-ying, Chair of Hong Kong’s League of Social Democrats (L*D), along with party members Jimmy Sham, Raphael Wong, and Figo Chan, announced the party’s dissolution.

Many L*D members have served jail time for civil disobedience. Leung Kwok-hung, now 69, remains in prison as a defendant in the 47 democrats’ national security case. L*D vice-chair Jimmy Sham, also one of the 47, was released last month after serving his sentence.

Even after other pro-democracy parties such as the Democratic Party and Civic Party disbanded, L*D continued street actions under the National Security Law era — addressing issues like labor importation and minimum wage.

Photographs by Tyrone Siu, Reuters.

06/29/2025

Independent journalist Le Huu Minh Tuan, who is serving 11 years for “conducting propaganda against the state,” has told his family that he is facing serious health problems in prison. A human rights group says his treatment is “a disgrace to Vietnam.”

In a June 20 statement, Human Rights Watch said: “The Vietnamese government should immediately release independent journalist Le Huu Minh Tuan and ensure he receives proper medical treatment.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a similar call. “Tuan’s pain and suffering during the past five years in prison is Vietnam’s shame, and he should be released immediately,” the New York-based press freedom group said in a statement.

06/29/2025

Across Southeast Asia, hundreds of thousands of people are locked away in scam centers. Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar have all seen a massive proliferation of scam compounds in recent years.

Run by a range of organized crime groups, the compounds are often linked to powerful local individuals and operate with impunity.

06/28/2025

The League of Social Democrats, a pro-democracy party with a 19-year history, has announced it will hold a press conference Sunday to announce its disbandment, signaling the disappearance of pro-democracy parties from Hong Kong’s political landscape.

“Next year would have marked the 20th anniversary of our founding, but we will not make it to that day,” L*D said in a media notice on Friday. “We are announcing our dissolution.”

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